Updated Philly church official faces triple accuser

A key witness is set to testify Wednesday in a groundbreaking clergy-abuse case in Philadelphia.

The former altar boy says he was raped by two priests and a teacher in the late 1990s.

And he says the Archdiocese of Philadelphia had an earlier complaint against one of them.

Update, 2: 30 p.m. A policeman’s son, the witness says he started smoking marijuana at age 10 to deal with the abuse. He says he has since tried drug treatment 23 times to battle addictions to heroin, painkillers and other drugs.

Earlier Wednesday, a 49-year-old doctor said he told Lynn in 1992 that Avery had abused him – and asked the archdiocese to keep children safe.

Defense lawyers have attacked the man’s credibility based on his history of drug and legal problems.

But one defendant, defrocked priest Edward Avery, pleaded guilty days before trial.

Jurors don’t know about the plea, but could learn of it if defense lawyers go too far in challenging the witness.

The lawyers are defending Monsignor William Lynn, a former secretary for clergy charged with child endangerment for keeping accused priests in ministry.

The other priest and teacher will be tried separately.